As a commissioner
of new work, the client is able to select an artist whose work they admire
to create a new artwork for their site. The steps set out below are a
guide to the way the process of commissioning a new stained glass window
would usually run.

In the "Gallery” section,
you can follow the actual steps that have been taken in one new project.
"Making a new Stained Glass window"
includes photographs to
illustrate particular items. Link
to Gallery

1

Clients
make contact with the glass artists and arrange a time to speak
about the commission. Gerry and Jill’s glass wholesaler
can arrange safe delivery of windows anywhere on the east coast.

2

Clients
speak by phone or in person to Gerry and Jill and describe the project
they have in mind. The practical information they need to have is:

a

The
location and type of building (eg St. Monica’s Catholic
Cathedral in Cairns, All Saint’s Anglican Church,
Kangaroo Point.)

b

The
location of the area to be glazed – ie Where it is
in the building (eg. Facing West above the Altar or North
in the
Hospital Chapel)

c

The
rough size and shape of the window (eg Circle 3m diameter,
or lancet window 2400mm x 600mm.) These approximate dimensions
allow a “ball park” price to be established.

d

The
theme or concept for the proposed window. (eg It may be a
memorial window, so the person or event it is commemorating
would be described).

e

(WARNING!) Gerry
and Jill design their own windows in collaboration with
their commissioners. Some commissioners do a substantial
amount of preliminary art and committee work, arrive at the
studio with their drawings, and then realise (too late!)
what
they have done cannot be made or is unsuitable in glass, or
what they could have had “if only they had known...”
Gerry and Jill’s advice? Contact them early in the process!

3

Gerry
and Jill establish the parameters of the design and approximate
cost/s
(including installation/protectors, etc.) for the project, and discuss
any ensuing issues, including a working timeline and, depending
on
variable factors such as the length of time the project is expected
to take, a payment schedule. When this is mutually agreed the
project
is begun.

4

Gerry
and Jill arrange to get accurate measurements for the window and may
organise a site visit to inspect the site, and determine light source.
A ladder, scaffold, snorkel lift or occasionally even a crane may
be required for this as well as for installation, depending on where
the window is located.

5

Gerry
designs a detailed scale drawing, which is submitted to the client
for approval and from which the full size cartoons will later be drafted.
Small windows may be drawn life size at this time to save costs.

6

Jill
cuts the coloured glass from the full size cartoons. The glass
pieces
that require painting are given to Gerry to paint and kiln-fire before
being returned to Jill to fit into the lead matrix of the panel.
Once
the panel has been soldered together, it is puttied and cleaned before
being transported to the site and installed.